St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-10
The Second Day Of the Railroad Commits
si0ners' Convention Devoted to
the Passage Of Resolutions.
Commissioner Coffin Says He Wants the
Railroad Companies to Stop Rra
ming Trains Sunday.
Judge Mason Says Sunday Trains Are
Necessary to the Proper Carrying
on of Business.
A Resolution Passed Urging Railroad
Companies to Adopt New Systems
Of Coupling Freight Cars.

IL WdS uOb Ill tlc ScHdIS CldlllUcI dJ
the capitol yesterday morning at 10
o'clock, when President Austin called
the convention of railroad commission
erS to order, and Commissioners Peter
son and Mason pulled off their coats and
mopped their reeking faces with hand
kerchiefs.
The consideration of the resolution
laid over for further discussion Wednes-
day night was taken up, and Commits
SiOner Mason introduced the following
substitute, which was adopted: q
Resolved, That in the opinion of the
members of this convention the phrase
under substantially similar circumstances
and conditions in the fourth section of the
interstate commerce law should be construed
literally, and that a lower rate to a manufac-
turer or producer is not in conflict with the
spirit of this section of the law, provided all
persons and localities under substantially
similar circumstances and conditions are
treated alike, and they would respectfully ask
from the interstate commerce commission an
official Interpretation of the section if not in
consistent with his views.
This feature of the interstate COM
merce law was dropped at this point
and the subject of
FREIGHT CLASSIFICATION
taken up. The question was discussed
following resolution introduced by the
classification committee adopted:
The committee on freight classification re-
specially reports to the convention that it
has had under consideration the subject
which was referred to it by the meeting held
at Des Monies in December last. We find
since that time avery gratifying progress has
been made by the railroad companies in the
states and territories in the matter of uni
formlty in classification, The join Western
r.vn Scat ia Il:
region covering all its freight traffic, uni
formity is this respect being the rule. Some
attention is necessary for correction of
some other evils which attain under the gen.
eral classification now in-uSe. 1t is recon-
mended that this subject be submittedto the
care and consideration of each of
the commissioners composing the convention
and that they correspond freely with each
other upon their observation and experience
in this direction, to the end that the next
convention may deal intelligentiy upon the
subject. Your committee is of the opinion
that satisfactory solution of the subject of
freight classification cannot be permanently
and effectively dealt with except by the
assistance and cooperation of the interstate
commission While the interstate commerce
law has not specially reference to this matter
to the control of sthe commission, it is be-
lieyed that under its general powers this
tribunal may properly deal with this subject.
Your committee therefore, recommend the
adoption of the following resolution, and
that certlfIed copy thereof be furnished to
the interstate commissioners:
Resolved, That this convention. composed
of the railroad commissioners of the states of
Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Minnesota
and the territory of Dakota, respectfully
calls the attention of the interstate commits
sion to the. utility and Importance of main
tanning a uniform classification covering the
railroad freight traffic of the entire country,
and that we earnestly request that steps may
be taken to secure such uniformity in CLASH
oil oh na,,fo of froin i,,
the different states. and territories of the
Union, and to the attainment of this end the
different commissions here represented
pledge their cordial cooperation and assist
ance.
STILL MORE RESOLUTIONS.
With but little discussion. the follow
ing set of resolutions were, adopted: :. :;
Resolved, That we regard Section of the
interstate commerce law, which makes it I'M
lawful for common carriers operating COM
petlng lines to enter into any Contract agree
ment or combination for the pooling of,
freights or dividing the net proceeds of their
earnings, as essential to the best interests of
the states we represent and ask its enforce
ment to the fullest extent by the national
commission and by the state commissioners,
where the statutes empower them to do so.
Resolved, That the railroad commissioners
here represented exchange and furnish each
to the other all local and Special rate sheets
or rates established, granted or allowed by
i've states here represented, for the purpose
of comparison, and to the end of ultimately
establishing or approaching uniformity in
the states of the Northwest.
Resolved, That the chairman of this con-
yention be requested to open a correspond-
ence with the interstate commission and
with the commissions of the different states
and territories of the Union, for the purpose
OF securing from them an'expresSion of their
views with reference! to the utility of gen.
n
and place of the different commissions of the
country, charged with the administration of
the laws governing and controlling common
carriers in the United States This conyen-
ton hereby explains its. views in favor of
such an assemblage of the federal, state and
territorialse commissions, .,,.
COUPLERS FOR FREIGHT CARS.
Mr.. Coffin spoke feelingly on the mat
ter of placing power brakes on steam
cars. He said that he went before the
railroad committees of the Iowa legisla-
ture and urged the passage of bill that
would compel every railroad company
in the state to fit their cars, both freight
and passenger, with power brakes, but
the men who had posed before the peo-
pie as anti-monopolists and as the peo-
pleS' candidates, when they got into the
legislature refused to take any step
antagonistic to the interests of railroad
corporations. He gave some figures to
show that the5coupler rand brake now
generally IN use were dangerous affairs.
He had taken a deep personal interest
in the matterand spoke from knowledge
that he had gained by personal re-
search. During the past year he said
459 men employed by railroad COM
panies had been killed, 1850 injured
seriously, 13,T70 injured not seriously,
making a total of $1,000 injured or
killed in the United States by the rail-
roads. In relation to this matter he in
troduced this resolution, Which was
adopted: 80 e